1375.000 Thalia L.

Herbs, aquatic, coarse, upright, often dying back to rhizome in winter; stems unbranched below inflorescence. Leaves few, all basal, or rarely single cauline leaf; sheath not auriculate, spongy, containing prominent air spaces; petiole; lamina ovate to elliptic, thin but stiff. Inflorescence paniculate, branched, branches short and upright, usually arching; rhachis internodes conspicuously zigzagged; bracts deciduous, falling with flower if fruit not set, each bract subtending 1 flower pair, herbaceous to leathery. Flowers pale to dark purple; sepals persistent in fruit, membranous; corolla lobes unequal. Fruit capsules, nut-like, 1-seeded, glabrous, exocarp membranous, pericarp thin, indehiscent. Seeds dark brown, nearly globose, smooth; aril reduced at base.

Worldwide: 7 species in tropical America with one (T. geniculata) extending to tropical Africa

Zambia: 1 taxon.